The drinks group, which owns Guinness and Johnnie Walker, wants to focus more on selling its upmarket and expensive spirits in America.

Its North America business accounts for around 45 per cent of its profits.

Change of direction: The brands being sold to Sazerac include Parrot Bay rum

The brands being sold to Sazerac include American gin Seagram's, Parrot Bay rum, Romana Sambuca and Swiss cinnamon schnapps Goldschlager which it has owned for more than 20 years. Last year Diageo bought George Clooney's premium tequila brand Casamigos for £890m and in March it acquired fashionable German vermouth maker Belsazar.